Our work demands discretion, trust and confidentiality
We take this very seriously. So much so, that we don’t display Client logos to showcase our work. We don’t even talk about Clients by name; but that doesn’t mean they don’t talk about us …
SMART IN PLANNING is a multi-award winning business, voted by Retailers.
Our business has been built entirely on the foundations of
Reputation, Referrals and Results.
“My little black book approach leaves no room for interpretation; everything goes in the vault”.
Susan Martin ~ CEO and Founder
What people say about SMART IN PLANNING
This sampling of recommendations showcases a combination of quotes, both from Clients and across Susan’s extensive career. They demonstrate her style, skill and strength of relationships, which in turn translate to influence and impact.
Specific Client references can be arranged, with their permission, on request.
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SMART IN PLANNING are a world-class professional group that demonstrated true value-add to our organisation.
The team were extremely capable, had proven frameworks to bring to the table, but also were adaptable to our organisations’ needs.
They assisted us with rebuilding our merchandise strategy.
Thank you.
~Founder
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Susan is an experienced professional with a structured and action driven path to implementing Merchandise Planning as key discipline in retail businesses.
As a consultant she proved to be invaluable implementing the methodology, process and understanding of what Planning does to increase profit.
~ Planning Manager
“Susan, I love your approach and your ways of working. You are a master! Thank you for all your assistance and help over the past twelve months. I’ve been fortunate to have worked with you. Your methodology is very sound and inspirational. I hope to be able to engage with you on projects going forward. Thank you!”
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I have to say thanks to Susan Martin for bringing to life the Planning Pod and sharing her experience, best practice and toolkits on Merchandise Planning. For any of my colleagues or friends interested in merchandise planning, I strongly recommend that you join the Planning Pod and learn more about this interesting career and how it can drive businesses forward! #planningasitshouldbe
~ Noelene DeVilliers, Head of Planning and Business improvement, Big W
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Throughout my time working with Susan as part of Group Planning I found her leadership and engagement inspiring.
Susan has a real passion for development of people and best practise process.
I always found her approach extremely methodical, very positive and always calm. I would jump at the chance to work with Susan again!
~ Haylie Sullivan, GM of Merchandise Planning, Cotton On Group
“With a mantra for putting Planning on the map Susan has demonstrated an unwavering passion and commitment to ensuring Australian retailers build and strengthen their merchandise functions. Collaborating with Susan, and accessing her insights from a wealth of experience both domestically and globally, significant contributions have been made to shaping the first national recognised qualification for retail planners.
We had the pleasure of welcoming Susan as a guest speaker at a recent launch event where she spoke of her background and career pathway. Susan’s professionalism and ability to capture and inspire an audience of peer retail leaders and aspiring junior planners was notable.
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Merchandise planning was completely foreign to me before the Foundations course, I didn’t know where to begin - what questions to ask/google. Smart in Planning made learning about and implementing Merchandise planning in our business both enjoyable and manageable! I now feel ready to put the techniques I have learned into practice and look at implementing better reporting, forecasting and stock management across the business. I can’t wait to see the difference it makes!
~ Alice Wark, General Manager, Magali Pascal
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I have both worked with and for Susan over a 5 year span. Susan is one of the most professional and knowledgeable planning colleagues I have come across in my retail experience.
Susan has exceptional leadership and strategic skills, successfully displayed in her role introducing and developing a planning team and planning process in Best & Less.
Myself and many other planners have benefitted from Susan's stewardship and direction.
~ Mike Cohen, Merchandise Planning Manager, Best & Less
“I had the pleasure of working with Susan Martin for three years at the Cotton On Group. I had already been with COG for four years working as a Planner across several brands before Susan joined, and Susan’s commencement couldn’t have come at a better time for me personally as I had just started in my first Planning Manager role.
I had only ever known Planning at COG, and I had a lot to learn! Not only did Susan come in and transform the landscape of Planning across the group, she also took me under her wing and opened up a whole new world for me, showing me what “best practice” looks like. I can honestly say that Susan taught me everything I know about Merchandise Planning and I would never have been successful in my role without her guidance and mentor-ship, something I am truly grateful for every day.
Susan’s approach to people development is truly inspiring; she is genuine, trustworthy, calming, thought provoking and nurturing, and has a true desire to see both the company and its people succeed. Not only has Susan set me up with skills that I will take with me throughout the rest of my career, she has left a lasting impression on the Group, with all of the systems and processes she implemented just a part of everyday life for us now, and we couldn’t imagine it any other way.”
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I had the privilege of working with Susan Martin at Retail Adventures Pty Limited during 2010 in her capacity as ‘General Manager – Planning’.
Susan Martin did an exceptional job with limited resources.
Susan is a strategic, creative manager with attention to detail. Susan always maintains very good relation with her peers, co-workers and clients.
~ Eric Elliott, Director, Global IT Services
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Susan led a development program for Merchandise Planners that was engaging as well as focused on performance outcomes.
The program provided participants with the skills to solve business challenges.
I would highly recommend Susan to any business that is wanting to nurture and develop talent within Merchandise Planning, she is exceptional!
~ Beth Hall, Head of People Experience and Development, Cotton On Group
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Susan on two continents. Our retail careers started in Cape Town, South Africa with a very solid and thorough training in Planning skills. Susan has grown that training base into a Retail Planning career adding value to the companies she’s been associated with, both here in Australia and Cape Town.
In 2013 and 2014 we worked together at the Cotton On Group where I was inspired by Susan’s ability to manage at a high level the collective planning of all brands, and across countries, of such a large and complex global company. In her time at COG Susan drove the change to more strategic Merchandise Planning, the implementation of a Planning software system, and the training required of all team members. This was not easy, as throughout the change and implementation we continued to trade and grow the business at a rate far greater than other retailers. Susan’s ability to be supportive in a turbulent environment and stay focused on the end game is a true talent.
Susan’s ability to articulate and demonstrate the value that structured and strategic planning can bring to a retail organisation is inspiring, as it’s about providing a picture of the many financial and reporting improvements ‘in the future’ which would potentially not be realised without Merchandise Planning. ”
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Susan’s passion on the subject of merchandise planning exudes grace and art rolled into a ball of knowledge!!! I don’t see business - I see giving and sharing of accumulated skills and knowledge to a wider audience.
I’m sure many will benefit from her Foundations course - I am a huge advocate as I can see the benefit merchandise planning brings into a business.
~ Eliza Purdea, Planning Manager, Baby Bunting
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Wow Susan! I've just registered to your Planning Pod. I'm totally blown away by the resources you have available.
In recent years I have struggled to find good training material for new planners and this really fills a huge gap.
Thank you for making these free as well!
~ Tabitha Geyer, Head of Planning, Superbalist
“I met Susan when SMART IN PLANNING was first engaged to review Planning for the Group. She is very approachable and easy to work with, and has an amazing understanding of business best practice. Her initial observations and recommendations were insightful and accurate.
She has worked inclusively with all functions and across brands to clearly identify key issues, recommend workable solutions, and drive implementation.
Susan continues to support key projects, continuously simplifying Planning, and streamlining end to end process.
In executing her strategies she has been fundamental to changing Planning for the better, across the entire Group.”
